There are things that Kyle Boller misses about playing professional football.

But nearly two years after his retirement from the NFL, the Hart High graduate isn’t having any trouble keeping himself busy and happy.

Last week, Boller entered a local qualifying event for golf’s U.S. Open.

The qualifier will take place at Andalusia Country Club in La Quinta, where the top finishers will move onto another stage of qualifying into one of golf’s most prestigious events.

“I’ve always been competitive since I was 6,” Boller told The Signal on Monday. “It keeps my blood flowing. I watch these guys on TV and they’re so dang good. It’s funny because I think every ex-athlete thinks they can play on the pro tour. And then they realize how tough it is.”

Boller, 32, said he’s been a casual golfer most of his life, though he admitted he was cut from the varsity team at Hart his senior year.

Two years of the retired life reinvigorated his love for golf and prompted him to attain amateur status and an official United State Golf Association handicap.

His handicap is 1.2 at his home course, The Santaluz Club, in San Diego where he lives.

Boller said he’s never had a proper lesson or golf coach and he doesn’t plan on pursuing one. Right now, he’s a professional family man.

Since calling it a career after eight years in the NFL, Boller said he’s taken the opportunity to be with his wife and two young kids. He has a 1-year-old son and an 11-month-old daughter.

His family played a big part in his decision to hang it up in late July 2012.

The former University of California, Berkeley quarterback had spent the last two seasons of his career with the Oakland Raiders. He mostly served as a backup during that time.

He became a free agent after that and signed with the San Diego Chargers during training camp prior to the 2012 season. It only took him once practice to realize his heart was no longer in the game.

“I was just at a point in my career where, honestly, I was burnt out on football,” said Boller, who was picked 19th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft.

In his first few years in the league, Boller experienced relative success as a regular starter for the Ravens from 2003-2007.

In 2004, Boller threw for 2,559 yards and 13 touchdowns to 11 interceptions while starting all 16 games of the season. Baltimore finished 9-7 that year but missed the playoffs.

It would end up being the only full season Boller played as a starter as he was hampered by multiple injuries throughout his tenure.

After leaving the Ravens, Boller never found consistency as a starter with the St. Louis Rams or Raiders after that.

“It didn’t go exactly the way I planned but look, I played (nearly) 10 years in the NFL , I was never cut from any team,” Boller said. “I started a whole lot of games. I would say that I had a pretty successful career.”

And even after some time has passed, Boller said he’s never felt the desire to get back in the game.

Outside of his golfing ventures, he recently acquired a real estate license and plans to use that to tap into his entrepreneurial passion.

For Boller, it’s about looking forward.

Sure, he has fond memories of his playing days. But he’s not the type to dwell on the past, and he certainly doesn’t regret leaving it behind.